Azadeh Block, PhD, MSW

Dr. Azadeh Masalehdan Block is a native of Southwestern Pennsylvania, where her maternal family-roots trace back to 1799. Her father’s arrival in the U.S. in 1965 marks a key inflection point in her complex immigration story. Dr. Block’s career was founded in mental health services research. She worked at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic from 1997–2007. She has served as faculty at Slippery Rock University, University of Pittsburgh, Youngstown State University, and is currently an Associate Professor of Social Work at PennWest University California. Her teaching encompasses the areas of social work with groups, cultural diversity, and social work interviewing skills. Her research collaboration has focused on issues related to cultural humility, competence, and work with immigrant and refugee populations.

Dr. Block completed her two years of post-MSW clinical training as an outpatient therapist at Family Services of Western Pennsylvania (now Wesley Family Services). She has presented her research at international and national venues such as the Council on Social Work Education and International Association of Social Work with Groups, as well as at the local levels at the National Association of Social Worker chapter conferences in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Dr. Block engages with multiple community partners to address issues related to social justice and social work in southwestern PA and is open to collaboration with students on projects to enhance their social work education experience.